<p>Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) head, Lt. General Ahmed Shuja Pasha's likely extension comes less than a year after Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani granted a three-year extension to Pakistan Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.<br /><br />General Pasha is on a year-long extension that was given in March last year and this extended term ends March 18.</p>.<p>The daily Dawn quoted sources as saying that the ISI chief is likely to get another two years in office as the country faces serious internal and external security challenges. <br /><br />Noting that it was rare for an army officer to get two extensions, the media report said that the move will not come as a surprise given General Pasha’s close association with General Kayani.<br /><br />“He (General Pasha) enjoys the full confidence of the chief and is fully committed to fighting religious extremism and militancy,” a senior official was quoted as saying.<br /><br />Another reason for his getting a second extension is his ability to get along with the US. <br />The possible extension in General Pasha's tenure comes at a time when the relationship between Washington and Islamabad has come under strain following the fatal shooting of two men in Lahore in January by US official Raymond Davis.<br /><br />The US has demanded that Davis be released as he enjoys diplomatic immunity and put on hold its ties with Pakistan.<br /><br />“General Pasha’s familiarity with the issue may be important in dealing with the current tension with the United States,” Lt. General (Retd) Talat Masood was quoted as saying. <br /><br />“The grave challenges faced by the country require continuity in the ISI leadership.”</p>
<p>Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) head, Lt. General Ahmed Shuja Pasha's likely extension comes less than a year after Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani granted a three-year extension to Pakistan Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.<br /><br />General Pasha is on a year-long extension that was given in March last year and this extended term ends March 18.</p>.<p>The daily Dawn quoted sources as saying that the ISI chief is likely to get another two years in office as the country faces serious internal and external security challenges. <br /><br />Noting that it was rare for an army officer to get two extensions, the media report said that the move will not come as a surprise given General Pasha’s close association with General Kayani.<br /><br />“He (General Pasha) enjoys the full confidence of the chief and is fully committed to fighting religious extremism and militancy,” a senior official was quoted as saying.<br /><br />Another reason for his getting a second extension is his ability to get along with the US. <br />The possible extension in General Pasha's tenure comes at a time when the relationship between Washington and Islamabad has come under strain following the fatal shooting of two men in Lahore in January by US official Raymond Davis.<br /><br />The US has demanded that Davis be released as he enjoys diplomatic immunity and put on hold its ties with Pakistan.<br /><br />“General Pasha’s familiarity with the issue may be important in dealing with the current tension with the United States,” Lt. General (Retd) Talat Masood was quoted as saying. <br /><br />“The grave challenges faced by the country require continuity in the ISI leadership.”</p>